@CalJust
I agree with you that some practices are more important than others - crucially important, actually. Such as loving one another, showing compassion, being forgiving, etc. Laws of the heart.
Absolutely. And we need His life for that.
Agreed?
Others are definitely dependent on the culture of the times, the political and societal issues, and hence cannot be applied to the 21st century.
Maybe "cannot" is too strong. But culture and time do influence the customs of the believers.
Viewing the church life through the lense of time and culture is appropriate.
On these two principles I think we agree.
I agree.
Where we disagree, however, is that I would place the issue of locality squarely in the second category, whilst you place it in the first.
The societal, cultural and geographic landscape has changed unrecognisably from the first century.
It simply makes no sense to have one "church" in Chicago, and one in Anaheim.
But - and this remains my biggest objection - this again focuses on external things, rather than on what matters most. In fact, it detracts from those things.
Which is the stuff in my first category. [/quote]
If you do not mistake " one church " for one meeting place, one assembly hall, or one location, it is arguable I think.
The church in Taipei has many meetings halls.
The church in Jerusalem met in hundreds of houses.
The same with a number of large cities - multiple meetings places, meeting halls.
Remember, the church is the called out believers not the physical edifice.
That is could be problematic in some large cities, I would not deny. But if the way is NOT taken, is that problem free ?
I wish I could converse more at this moment, But I am actually called away to some things.